Villa sets Christmas deadline

Although David Villa spoke a few days ago of the need for him to remain patient for his chance to re-secure his place in the Barcelona team, the striker’s patience now has a limit: the Christmas break. 'El Guaje' does not want to jump the gun and is confident his lack of first-team football is because the coaching staff believe he has not yet fully recovered and want to bring him back into action gradually.

However, if this does not prove to be the case and the goal-machine continues to be the team’s third substitute to be brought on, Villa will approach coach Tito Vilanova to get a first-hand account of the situation.

The Asturian does not want to cause a stir in the team’s changing room, but that does not mean he is willing to accept the role of a long-term substitute nor a guaranteed starter in the Barça line-up.

If the Barcelona manager were then to say that the forward were not a key player to the team, Villa would speak to the club with a view of leaving. But one thing Villa does not want to do is unsettle the squad in any way, as he hopes things will work out in the best way. It is also non-beneficial for Barça to have a player of Villa’s calibre in the squad if he does not play.

If this situation were to arise, both parties would try to reach an agreement which benefited everyone involved. Villa would not make life difficult for the club and the Catalan outfit would try to negotiate a good sale in order to recover the ¤40 million it paid Valencia for the player.